Latch mechanism



W. H. KRAUSE LATCH MECHANISM Oct. 23, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 4, 1946 Jizazvz L ys.

W. H. KRAUSE LATCH MECHANISM Oct. 23, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 4, 1946 I7? aefizar dVaZfarJY/frazzse Oct. 23, 1951 w. H. KRAUSE 2,572,630

LATCH MECHANISM Filed March 4, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 WIIIIIIIIA lid 0277 45.

Oct. 23, 1951 w. H. KRAUSE 2,572,630

LATCH MECHANISM Filed March 4, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ammw .iffariz ego.

Patented Oct. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LATCH MECHANISM Application March 4, 1946, Serial No. 651,859

3 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in latches and is particularly adaptable for use in connection with the hood latches of automobiles.

Another purpose is to provide a latch which is particularly adapted for use in latched hood or bonnet used in connection with automobile engines.

Another purpose is to provide a latch structure of maximum simplicity and flexibility.

Another purpose is to provide a latch which will latch effectively at a variety of positions of the keeper.

Another purpose is to provide a latch having a positive locking action.

Another purpose is to provide a latch in which the use of a minimum number of moving parts is involved.

Other purposes will appear from time to time throughout the specification and claims.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section illustrating an assembly to which my latch may be applied;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, illustrating the parts in closed position;

Figure 3 is a section on an enlarged scale on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

- Figure 6 is a section similar to Figure 5 with the parts in a different position;

Figure '7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Figure 5; I

Figure 8 is a section similar to Figure 5, illustrating a slight variation;

Figure 9 is a section similar to Figure 8, illustrating the parts in a different position; and

Figure 10 is a section on the line l0|0 of Figure 9.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to the drawings and referring first to Figure 1, I illustrate my latch as applied to a type of hood latch and hinge assembly in which a hood may be opened from either side, and which, when opened, tilts or rotates about an axis adjacent the closed side; referring specifically to Figure 1 I illustrate a hood having within opposite sides of the space within the hood and closure. Upstanding from the brackets 3a and 3b are supports 4a and 4b to which are hinged as at 5a, 5b the lever arms 6a, 6b. At the extremity of each set of lever arms is a lower latch assembly generally indicated as 1a, 1b. Since the assemblies are the same I will consider in detail only one assembly. The assembly 1a is shown as having a top plate 8 provided with a centering member 9 in the form of an upwardly tapered centering pin adapted to pass through a guiding aperture It] in a looking top plate II which is secured to a transverse interior support l2 in the hood. It will be understood that the top plate H is provided with any appropriate latch receiving aperture I3 having a latch receiving edge I4. The plate portion bordered by the edge M which I indicate as I5 serves as a keeper to receive and be secured by the below described latch element.

I may illustrate as many of the centering members 9 as are necessary; referring to Figure 4, two

are indicated. Positioned below the top plate 8 I provide a latch housing including a generally upright plate 2!! having side flanges 2| which slide between and may be secured to guides 22 which, in turn, are secured to the bottom of the top plate 8. Any suitable securing means may be employed for example, the screws 23 and nuts 24. The side members or guides 22 may rest upon any suitable pad 25 on the top member 26 of the bracket 3a. Pivoted to the side plate 2!! as at 30 is a latch member generally indicated as 3| and including a latch projection 32 and an elevating projection 33, the two projections being separated by a space or opening 34.

When the parts are in the latching position of Figure 5, the outer end of the latching projection 32 engages the top of the portion l5 of the keeper plate I I. When the parts are in the open position as shown in Figure 6, the elevating projection 33 engages the bottom of said portion l5, and is effective to hold the plate I I in the elevated position in which it is shown in Figures 1 and 6.

Pivoted to the latch 3| as at 35 is a bell crank lever having arms 36 and 31. The arm 36 forms in effect a link, having at its outer end a pin 38 36 to substantially a single plane of movement. The opposite arm 3'! is provided with any suitable crank pin 50 to which any suitable link 5| may be secured. It will be understood that any suitable connection may be provided whereby the link 5| may be moved in the direction of the arrows of Figures 5 and 6.

The plate 25, is provided with an arcuate slot 55, concentric with the center 35. The slot 55 receives one end of a pin 55 on the pivot 35. The pin may also be employed as a pivot for the bell crank lever 35, 31. Surrounding one end of the pin, and confined by the head 5?, is a spring 58 one end of which engages an abutment 59 on the bell crank lever arm 35. The other end engages an abutment 6B which may be formed on the latch 3|. The opposite end of the pin 56, headed as at El, receives a generally arcuate spring 62. It is looped at one end as at 63, to form an eye surrounding the inner end of the pin 56. It is looped at the opposite end as at 54 to form an eye surrounding an abutment pin 65 extending from the face of the plate 20.

It will be understood from Figures 5 and 6 that when the parts are in the position of Figure 5, the spring 62 is effective to urge the latch member 3|, in a clockwise direction, against the top of the portion !5 of the platell. At the same time the spring 58 is efiective to urge the bell crank lever arm or link 36 in a clockwise direction, with its roller 39 at the upper limit'of the slot 44. However, the relation of the upper portion, roughly the upper half, of the slot 44 to the pivots 3B and 35 is such that any upward pull or push on the latch 32 causes a direct pull of the roller 39 against the side of the upper portion of the slot 44. There is no possibility of give, and the locking action is positive.

Assume that the user wishes to release the latch. He pulls on the link 5|, through any suitable connection, for example the rod 66 and the instrument panel knob 61, and thereby rotates the bell crank lever counterclockwise. The link .may be connected to the rod 66 by means of a member 88. This pulls the pin 38 and the roller 39 downwardly along the slot 14. At some point along the curve of the slot 44, toward the center of the slot, the positive locking effect is terminated. The camming action of the shape of the slot is such that the arm 35 is effective to cause a rotation of the latch 3! about the center 30. Eventually it reaches a position where the spring 52, to some extent assised by the spring 58, is effective to urge the latch 3! toward the open position in which it is shown in Figure 6. The ele- In closing the closure it is practical to reverse 'the movement of the latch 3! by thrusting down on the closure 2. The result is to cause a downward movement of the projection 33, which ro- -tates the latch 3! toward the closing position.

As soon as it moves over center, the spring 62, again somewhat assisted by the spring 58, is offect-ive to move the parts to the closed position in which they are shown in Figure 5.

With reference to the form of Figures 8 and 9,

- the major difierence is the employment of a. somewhat difierent type of guide. In the place oi the slotted plate shown in Figures 5 and 6, I illustrate a guide plate including a portion 10 welded or otherwise secured, as at 'l I, to the plate 20a, and supporting a free edged portion 12 outwardly spaced from the surface of the plate. The bell crank lever 73 has at the ends of one arm or link 14 a pin 15 carrying a roller or shoulder 15 and a head Ill. The head 71 underlies the free edge portion 12,. The oppositeend 18 of the bell crank lever has pivoted thereto a connector 19 apertured as at 85 to receive a link or rod. 8| having a head 82. The rod 8] is appropriately secured to operating means such as the members and 51 of Figure 2.

It will be realized that, whereas, I have described and illustrated a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in the side, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and draw ings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic, rather than as limiting me to rev precise showing.

I claim:

1. In a latch assembly adapted to engage and secure a keeper, a base on which said latch assembly is positioned, a latch member pivoted on said base, said latch member having a latch projection adapted, when the latch member is in securing position, to overlie a keeper, and means for rotating said latch member into and out of keeper-securing position including a lever pivoted to the latch member at a point remote from the pivotal connection of the latch member to the base, a curved cam track on the base, a connector on the lever, remote from the axis of the lever, positioned and adapted to ride along the cam track, an actuating member pivoted to the lever at a point remote from the pivotal connection of the lever to the latch member and also remote from the cam engaging connector on the lever, positioned and adapted to rotate the lever about its axis, whereby the movement of the connector along the cam track is adapted to rotate the latch member about its pivotal connection with the base, and a spring extending 1,,- between the latch member and the base and adapted to urge the latch member at one end of its excursion toward the latching position and at the other end of its excursion toward the unlatched position.

2. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that the cam track has a generally upright end portion which, when the latch member is in latched position, extends above the pivotal connection between the latch member and the lever.

3. The structure-0f claim 1 characterized in that the cam track has a generally uprightv upper end portion and a generally horizontal lower end portion, the upright upper end portion being more distant from the pivot of the latch member than is the lower horizontal end portion.

' WALTER H. KRAUSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,246,792 Dall June 24, 1941 2,256,465 Brubaker a- Sept. 23, 1941 2,268,741 Dall Jan. 6, 1942 2,274,711 Krause Mar. 3, 1942 2,296,424 Cloud-Mantle Sept. 22, 1942 Reynolds Feb. 23,1943 

